And isn't the "norm" to shoot the ex-wife too? That part seems odd.
Sadly, but I feel better than going after the kids*, it's often the SOP to go after the wife first/only.
In this case, the reason the ex-wife wasn't shot is in the article:
The mother was not at the home at the time of the shooting.
Other than that, people didn't suspect a thing, even mentioning how he had plans to go to the circus, so I wonder if he was putting up a 'brave front'. Or if something boiled over recently that made him feel that shooting his own kids was the kindest thing to do. We'll probably never know, as even if they find a reason, it'll never reach print.
I'd have rather he started with himself...
*One life vs multiple...
